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Devon Rex

The Devon Rex is an active cat with a unique look, marked by short curly hair and butterfly ears. The Devon Rex is often said to resemble a pixie, and if you know anything about folklore, you know that pixies are mischievous little troublemakers. Like his cousin, the Cornish Rex, the Devon Rex has a wavy coat, but his has a looser curl than that of the Cornish Rex.
The Devon Rex is alert and active, and shows a lively interest in its surroundings. They love to be with their humans and enjoy playing fetch or other games.

Temperament

The Devon Rex is highly intelligent and highly active. Expect him to be perched on your shoulder, at your side, or in your lap, avidly supervising everything you do. He is capable of jumping to great heights and loves learning tricks, including playing the piano. With his playful, outgoing nature, the Devon Rex is a good choice for families with older children, other pets, or frequent guests.

Appearance

The Devon Rex is known for its soft, short, naturally curly coat and large ears and eyes.

The Devon Rex has huge ears that are wide at the base and set low on the head. They frame the cat’s face and give him an elfin expression. Some have tufts of hair on the ears that resemble earmuffs.

The Devon Rex has wavy fur that gives a rippled effect. The fur is thickest on the back and sides of the body, tail, legs, face, and ears.

The eyes of the Devon Rex can be any colour, including blue, usually seen in colourpoints, and aqua, usually seen in mink-coloured cats.

More About The Devon Rex

Like his cousin, the Cornish Rex, the Devon Rex was a happy accident that eventually became a breed. His progenitor was a feral tom cat with a curly coat who lived in an abandoned tin mine in Buckfastleigh, Devon, in England. This tom had a fling with a tortoiseshell and white female owned by a lady named Beryl Cox. In the litter, born in 1960, was a brownish-black male who had the same curly coat as his father.
Miss Cox was familiar with the Cornish Rex and thought that this kitten, which she named Kirlee, might carry the same gene. To everyone’s surprise, a different gene was responsible for Kirlee’s coat. Instead of the tight, uniform waves of the Cornish Rex, Kirlee had a more tousled curly coat and whiskers that were stubby or missing altogether, instead of being bent and curled. He had large ears, but they were set low on his head, instead of high up like those of the Cornish Rex. A breeding program was developed to preserve cats with what became known as Devon Gene 2. All Devon Rex cats have a family tree that goes back to Kirlee.

A Devon Rex was first imported to the United States in 1968. The Cat Fanciers Association recognized the breed in 1979, and it is now recognized by other cat associations as well.

Care

When it comes to the Devon Rex coat, the more gentle the grooming the better. The hairs are delicate, and rough brushing or combing can damage them.

The skin of some Rex cats may develop a greasy feel, especially in folds or on the paws. If this is the case, bathe your cat every few weeks.

Trim their nails every week or so and brush their teeth with a vet-approved pet toothpaste for good overall health and fresh breath.

Check their ears weekly. If they look dirty, wipe them out using a cotton ball moistened with a gentle ear cleanser recommended by your veterinarian.